[Andrea Lee]

I would suggest engaging in the breakout rooms as much as possible!  I learned so much from the fantastic women that I shared the training experience with.

[Andrea Lee]

I’m currently in the Discover stage.  I’m working on having the necessary community conversations to get the project rolling.

[Andrea Lee]

Stettler has supported mental health in the following ways:

1. FCSS provides free programing that is all inclusive to our community members.
2. FCSS also provides counselling on a sliding scale so that it accessible to everyone in need.

How have these examples supported people in different stages of life course? (ex. childhood, adolescence, adulthood, elder years)

This programing and counselling helps provide services and support to anyone in need.

[Andrea Lee]

How has learning and adapting helped your process?  It has helped me to learn more about what a mentally healthy community looks like.

What important knowledge do you carry forward? I really liked learning about the 5-D model.  My big take away was that it is a process and that you can find yourself in different stages at different times.  I think it will be a great resource to bring to the table.

How will this better help you to support your community in your role as an animator?  It will help by engaging others in the community and everyone will be a part of the process.

 

 

[Andrea Lee]

What is one thing that you felt went really well and would be something that you do again in the future?
What is one thing that you now realize you would do differently the next time?

I did get a good response from the other community organizations that I have reached out to.

I need to think more outside the box and invite the unusual suspects to the table.

[Andrea Lee]

To recharge my battery I enjoy going outside to play with my kids.  The sound of their laughter and the smiles on their faces brings me joy and happiness.

[Andrea Lee]

1.   What are the key social determinants of mental health in your local community? (ex. poverty, high unemployment etc..)

 

I think the key social determinants in our community would be; affordable housing, unemployment/lack of job opportunities, access to social supports, transportation.

[Andrea Lee]

1) Can you have a mental illness and/or mental health challenges and experience positive mental health?

Yes, absolutely you can have mental health challenges and be able to live a positive and successful life.  It’s all in how you choose to cope with mental health challenges.

2) Can a community be “struggling” yet experience positive mental health? 

Yes, I believe that a community can be struggling but still achieve positive mental health.  Strengthening, empowering and encouraging each other will build the positive mental health in community.

[Andrea Lee]

Stettler is a small rural community located in the “heart” of Alberta.  Our local economy is mainly supported by the agriculture and oil & gas industries.  Stettlerites are very community minded and always seem to rise to the challenge when a member or family in our community have fallen on hard times people ban together to support them.

Stettler has a similar demographic to Ridgeview.  The 2016 Census showed a population of 5952 in the town of Stettler.  We have 8 surrounding communities that access amities and recourses in our community. With the economic downturn small business have had to close their doors, leaving a high vacancy rate in our downtown core.

Alberta Prairie Steam Tours was a huge tourist attraction to our small rural community.  Due to COVID the train has not been able to operate.  This has negatively affected the tourism and hospitality industry in Stettler, that had already been hit hard with the COVID restrictions.  The unemployment rate has also increased due to the closures.  We have limited job opportunities and our residents are having to move away or commute away to find employment in a larger center such as Red Deer.

 

 

 

[Andrea Lee]

My name is Andrea Lee, and I’m the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Stettler & District FCSS.  I was born and raised on a farm in the County of Stettler and my roots are strong here.  I’m excited about becoming a community animator, because I believe that starting a community conversation regarding mental health couldn’t come at a better time.  I look forward to collaborating and connecting with other agencies and joining together to come up with strategies and solutions to improve the overall mental health of our community.

[Andrea Lee]

I started by reaching out to community members and organizations and initiating a conversation about mental wellness.  So far I have received a positive response and people are excited about creating a wellness team.

[Author]

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